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| North Korea conducts dual tests of Musudan medium-range missile | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| North Korea conducted two back-to-back tests of its prototype Musudan missile on Wednesday, with at least one launch ending in failure and the second coming down well inside its theoretical range, according to details released by the South Korean defence ministry. | North Korea conducted two back-to-back tests of its prototype Musudan missile on Wednesday, with at least one launch ending in failure and the second coming down well inside its theoretical range, according to details released by the South Korean defence ministry. |
| The first test shortly before 6am local time was deemed to have failed by observers. A second missile flew about 400km (250 miles), South Korea’s military said. | The first test shortly before 6am local time was deemed to have failed by observers. A second missile flew about 400km (250 miles), South Korea’s military said. |
| The Pentagon said both missiles came down in the Sea of Japan after they were launched from Wonsan on North Korea’s eastern coast. | The Pentagon said both missiles came down in the Sea of Japan after they were launched from Wonsan on North Korea’s eastern coast. |
| Both test were believed to be of an intermediate-range Musudan missile that is designed to reach US bases as far away as Guam. | Both test were believed to be of an intermediate-range Musudan missile that is designed to reach US bases as far away as Guam. |
| North Korea had previously carried out four failed Musudan tests in 2016, in a setback for a weapons programme that ultimately aspires to develop a proven nuclear strike capability against the US mainland. | North Korea had previously carried out four failed Musudan tests in 2016, in a setback for a weapons programme that ultimately aspires to develop a proven nuclear strike capability against the US mainland. |
| Related: North Korea makes another failed attempt to launch ballistic missile | Related: North Korea makes another failed attempt to launch ballistic missile |
| UN resolutions ban North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology and in the hours before Wednesday’s launch efforts the Pentagon warned Pyongyang against pressing ahead with any test. | UN resolutions ban North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology and in the hours before Wednesday’s launch efforts the Pentagon warned Pyongyang against pressing ahead with any test. |
| In a statement the South Korean defence ministry stressed that any such test was “a clear violation of UN resolutions”, while the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said it “cannot be tolerated”. | In a statement the South Korean defence ministry stressed that any such test was “a clear violation of UN resolutions”, while the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said it “cannot be tolerated”. |
| US Commander Gary Ross said the United States strongly condemned this and other North Korean missile tests in violation of UN security council resolutions. | US Commander Gary Ross said the United States strongly condemned this and other North Korean missile tests in violation of UN security council resolutions. |
| The US state department spokesman John Kirby condemned the launch and said the United States intended to “raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions”. | The US state department spokesman John Kirby condemned the launch and said the United States intended to “raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions”. |
| The Musudan has an estimated range of anywhere between 2,500km and 4,000km (1,550 to 2,500 miles). The lower range covers the whole of South Korea and Japan, while the upper range would include US military bases on Guam. | The Musudan has an estimated range of anywhere between 2,500km and 4,000km (1,550 to 2,500 miles). The lower range covers the whole of South Korea and Japan, while the upper range would include US military bases on Guam. |
| Three failures in April were seen as an embarrassment for North Korea’s leadership, coming ahead of a rare ruling party congress that was meant to celebrate the country’s achievements. | Three failures in April were seen as an embarrassment for North Korea’s leadership, coming ahead of a rare ruling party congress that was meant to celebrate the country’s achievements. |
| Another attempt in May was also deemed to have failed. | Another attempt in May was also deemed to have failed. |
| Wednesday’s tests came with military tensions still running high following Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch a month later that saw the UN security council impose its toughest sanctions to date on the North. | Wednesday’s tests came with military tensions still running high following Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch a month later that saw the UN security council impose its toughest sanctions to date on the North. |
| During the party congress in May the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, had personally extended an offer of military dialogue with the South. | During the party congress in May the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, had personally extended an offer of military dialogue with the South. |
| The proposal was repeated several times by the North’s military, but Seoul dismissed all the overtures as insincere “posturing” given Kim’s vow at the same congress to push ahead with the country’s nuclear weapons programme. | The proposal was repeated several times by the North’s military, but Seoul dismissed all the overtures as insincere “posturing” given Kim’s vow at the same congress to push ahead with the country’s nuclear weapons programme. |
| In recent months, North Korea has claimed a series of technical breakthroughs in developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to targets across the continental United States. | In recent months, North Korea has claimed a series of technical breakthroughs in developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to targets across the continental United States. |
| The claimed achievements included miniaturising a nuclear warhead to fit on a missile, developing a warhead that can withstand atmospheric re-entry and building a solid-fuel missile engine. | The claimed achievements included miniaturising a nuclear warhead to fit on a missile, developing a warhead that can withstand atmospheric re-entry and building a solid-fuel missile engine. |
| The North also hailed the successful test of an engine specifically designed for an ICBM that would “guarantee” an eventual nuclear strike on the US mainland. | The North also hailed the successful test of an engine specifically designed for an ICBM that would “guarantee” an eventual nuclear strike on the US mainland. |
| Outside experts have treated a number of the claims with scepticism, while acknowledging that the North has made significant strides in upgrading its nuclear arsenal. | Outside experts have treated a number of the claims with scepticism, while acknowledging that the North has made significant strides in upgrading its nuclear arsenal. |
| With Agence France-Presse and Reuters | With Agence France-Presse and Reuters |